Window friction balance



May 16, 1961 A. KAUFMAN ETAL 2,984,509

WINDOW FRICTION BALANCE Filed July 21, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS 415527- Mum MN 100/5 KAuF/MAA/ BY W A ORNEY May 16, 1961 A. KAUFMAN EI'AL WINDOW FRICTION BALANCE a mi w w 3 M A! Filed July 21, 1958 United States Patent WINDOW FRICTION BALANCE Albert Kaufman, 2111 Albemarle Road, and Louis Kaufman, 2121Beehman Place, both of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Filed July 21, 1958, Ser. No. 749,792

3 Claims. (Cl. 292-70) This invention relates to a friction balance for windows, and more particularly to a balance which eliminates pulleys, springs and complex mechanisms for enabling a window to be raised easily, to remain set in its raised position and to permit a lowering thereof upon the exertion of a suitably graduated force.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a friction balance of rugged construction and low cost which may be applied to old as well as new window constructions without complex re-designing of existing parts.

It is another object of the invention to provide a friction balance which is capable of imposing a low frictional resistance to the upward movement of a window frame and which is effective immediately at the end of the raising movement to maintain the window in raised position, with the capability of lowering the window upon the application of a downward force of adjustable magnitude. This force may be easily adjusted to adapt the window to variable operating conditions such as the weight of the window, the degree of force desired to effect the raising and lowering thereof, etc.

It is another object of the invention to provide a friction balance for window frames embodying adjusting means which is readily accessible for the purpose of controlling the frictional resistance to the movement of the window.

The invention proceeds upon the principle of providing a frictional balance for a reciprocable window in the form of a compact housing of rugged construction and embodying on its opposite faces frictional surfaces for engagement with a suitable guideway in the window.

One of the frictional surfaces, preferably of extended area, is fixed, while the other, preferably of reduced area, .may be canted out of sliding relation with the guideway may be used for the upper and lower windows, which require merely spacing at different levels to effect the desired results.

Other objects and purposes will appear from the detailed description of the invention following hereinafter, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is a front elevation of a window fitted with frictional balances in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, with certain portions cut away, of the mid-portion of the window unit at the left of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the friction balance unit in accordance with the invention;

. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view along line 4-4 of ice Fig. 2 after the window has been raised from its position shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view corresponding to Fig. 4, showing the positioning of the parts in the course of the raising of the window to its position shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention showing the friction balance applied to a wooden window of conventional construction.

In Fig. 1 is shown a window frame F mounted in a wall W which frame accommodates a lower window sash 1 and an upper window sash 2 adapted for reciprocating movement between suitable vertical strips 4 and 5 provided on the inner sides of the window frame. The windows shown in Figs. 1 to 5 may be of the type disclosed in the applicants earlier patent, No. 2,666,235, January 19, 1954, which are provided with hinges H to permit a swinging of the windows inwardly for the purpose of cleaning the windows or to obtain desired ventilating effects, as fully set forth in the abovementioned patent.

In such window constructions, the window frames 1 and 2 are faced with sheet metal edges 9 alfixed to the window by means of screws 3 and these sheet metal facings are pivotally mounted to the sheet metal guideways of the window which reciprocate in the window frame F between the vertical strips, for example, the inner retaining strip 4 and the intermediate parting strip 5, as shown in Fig. 2. The guideways are in the form of sheet metal channels having the end face 6 and the sides 7 and 8 terminating in offset flanges 7 and 8", respectively.

The friction balances in accordance with the invention are disposed within these guideways and these are affixed to the window frame as shown in Fig. 1. The friction balance 10 on the left side of the window frame is disposed at approximately the upper level of the lower window sash 1 with a corresponding frictional balance 10' disposed on the opposite side of the frame wherein the parts are arranged oppositely and congruously with respect to the components of the friction balance 10. Likewise, friction balance units 10a and Illa are afiixed to the frame at the upper intermediate part thereof for accommodation within the guideways of the upper window, the downward movement of which is limited so that the units 10a and 10a remain within the respective guideways of the upper window 2.

As shown in Fig. 2, the objectives of the invention are attained by providing layers of laminated, wear-resistant material having a high coefiicient of friction on the balance unit which are in contact with the inner faces of the sides of the window guideway so that upward movement of the window may be easily effected, as indicated in Fig. 5, but that downward movement thereof, as indicated in Fig. 4, is impeded so that the window is selfsustaining or self-supporting when no lifting force is exerted thereon, and may be lowered from its raised position by the application of a downward force, the magnitude of which may be adjusted easily, depending upon the wishes of the user.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the friction balance unit is preferably formed of a rectangular prismatic housing of sheet metal having a front face 11 with top face 12 bent transversely from the upper edge thereof and bottom face 13 bent transversely from the lower edge thereof. In addition, the front face 11 has the lateral face 14 bent from the side thereof with the top edge of the face 14 coincident with the external margin of the top face 12.

A projection 16 extends from the rear edge of top face 12 and a corresponding projection 17 extends from the rear edge of the bottom edge 13 which are designed to extend through rectangular openings 20 and 21, re-

spectively, in a metal strap 18 having an offset upper portion 19 fitted with a circular opening 22 through which a fastening screw 23 is adapted to pass for affixing the strap 19, 18 to the wall of the window frame F. The projections 16 and 17 are peened over the openings 2% and 21 in order to integrally connect the housing with the supporting strap 18, 19, and the intermediate ofiset portion 18 serves 'to impart a resiliency to the assembly to assure smooth operation of the housing within the guideway of the Window.

The bottom face 13 of the housing is provided with a rectangular opening 15 adjacent to the fixed lateral face 14. This opening serves to accommodate a floating pivotal mounting for the companion frictional member of the friction balance'which is designed to move freely within thehousing. This L-shaped member has the long horizontal portion 25 slidably mounted on the bottom face '13 and is'fitted with a downward projection 27 at one end thereof which extends into the opening 15. The upstanding wall portion 26 at the opposite end of portion 25 is of a height which is less than the distance between the top and bottom faces 12 and 33, respectively, of the housing. The front of the housing 11 is also of smaller dimension than the top and bottom faces in order to permit rocking movement of the member 25 without impediment from any walls of the housing.

The outer face of the lateral wall 14 is covered with a layer of multiple-ply frictional wear-resistant material 42, which is riveted to the lateral face 14 by means of rivet 43 extending through an opening 42 in the frictional lining and into an opening 41 in the lateral face 14. Similarly, a covering of frictional wear-resistant material 44 is applied to the upstanding leg 25 of the auxiliary frictional member by means of rivet 45 extending through an opening in the frictional liner 44 and through opening 29 in the upstanding wall 26.

In order to impose a constrained movement on member 25 so that it may tilt during the upward movement of the window, as shown in Fig. 5, and to press against the side 7 of the window guideway with a predetermined force in the downward movement of the window, as shown in Fig. 4, a mechanism for controlling the movement of the tiltable member 25 is provided between the top and bottom faces of the housing. This mechanism includes an angular lever 30 which is provided with a reduced end 31 capable of extending into the opening 15 in the bottom face 13 beyond the end of tiltable member 25 and the downward projection 27 therein, namely, between projection 27 and lateral wall 14. The opposite end of this angular lever is formed as a flat plate 32 having an opening 33 which accommodates the terminal pin 37 of a threaded bolt 35, the head 36 of which extends above the top face 12 of the housing.

A spring 38 is seated between the end 32 of the angular lever and the tiltable friction plate and its positioning between these parts is constrained by a protuberance 23 extending upwardly from the plane of the tiltable lever 25 which engages the lower end of the spring. The upper end of the spring is engaged by the pin terminal 37 of the bolt 35.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the rotation of the bolt 35 will serve to move the angular lever 30 either upwardly or downwardly. A downward movement of the lever causes the lower end thereof to push the friction lever 25 further to the left by the action of the projection 31 of the angular lever against the edge of the tilting lever 25 which carries the projection 27. On the other hand, the raising of the angular lever 39 by withdrawing the bolt 35, serves to permit a clearance of movement of the friction member 25 towards the right and closer to the lateral face 14, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In either of the limiting positions, the pivotal movement of the tilting lever 25 is unaffected, since lever 30 merely serves to act as a confining stop for the rocking movement of the projection 27. However, on the downward movement of the window, resulting in the rocking of the tilting lever 25 from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 4, the stop afforded by the projection 31 of the angular lever 36 is a positive one, and if the former prevents movement of the lever 25 towards the lateral wall 14 of the housing, the frictional force required to overcome the friction of the lining 44 against the window slide 7 is greater than that which would be required if the frictional lining 44 were free to move to the right. Thus, the adjusting screw 36 provides a convenient mode of controlling the force required to lower the window and may be'critically adjusted so that the window remains set in the position to which it is raised, depending upon the weight thereof, and makes possible an adjustment of the force required to lower it from this set position.

The frictional linings 42 and 44 are capable of giving a long useful life and may be easily replaced after wear by riveting new linings to the faces 14 and 26.

Fig. 6 illustrates the applicability of the friction balance in accordance with the invention to a conventional window unit which is grooved with a guideway having end face 52 and lateral faces 53 and 54. This guideway may be lined with metal, as shown, or if left free, the friction linings 42 and 44 may cooperate with the sides of the unlined guideway in the side of the window 51.

While we have described our invention as embodied in a specific form and as operating in a specific manner for purpose of illustration, it should be understood that we do not limit our invention thereto, since various modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of our invention, the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims.

We claim:

1. In a window friction balance for a window frame with a reciprocably movable window therein provided with a guideway, a retarding unit affixed to said window frame for projection into said guideway, said unit comprising a substantially rectangular prismatic housing having a front face extending into said guideway, top and bottom faces, and a lateral face extending transversely to said front, top and bottom faces, a layer of frictional wear-resistant material aflixed to the outer surface of said lateral face, an L-shaped member including an upstanding portion within said housing slidably and pivotally mounted on said bottom face but disconnected from said lateral face, a layer of frictional wear-resistant material aflixed to the outer surface of said upstanding portion of said member, and adjustable means extending between the top and bottom faces of said housing for controlling the sliding movement of said member without affecting the pivotal movement thereof, thereby to permit upward movement of the window and adjustment of the force required to effect downward movement thereof.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said upstanding portion of said L-shaped member is of lesser height than the top and bottom faces of said housing to permit tilting of said member between said top and bottom faces.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said lateral face extends beyond the distance between said top and bottom faces of said housing.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said 1astmentioned means comprises an angular lever having one end thereof acting as a stop for the L-shaped member, and a threaded bolt cooperating with the opposite end of said angular lever to adjust the position of the stop end.

5. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said last 'mentioned means comprises an angular lever having one end thereof acting as a stop for the L-shaped member, a threaded bolt cooperating With the opposite end of said angular lever to adjust the position of the stop end, and

a spring extending between the last-mentioned end of said angular lever and said L-shaped member.

6. In a window friction balance fora window frame with a reciprocably movable window therein provided with a guideway, a retarding unit afiixed to said window frame for engagement with said guideway, said unit comprising a substantially rectangular prismatic housing having a front face extending into said guideway, top and bottom faces, and a lateral face extending transversely to said front, top and bottom faces, a layer of frictional wear-resistant material alfixed to the outer surface of said lateral face, said bottom face having a recess therein adjacent to said lateral face, an L-shaped member within said housing slidably and pivotally mounted on said bottom face and composed of a short upstanding portion, a long horizontal portion overlying said bottom face and terminating in a downward projection extending into said recess, a layer of frictional wear-resistant material aflixed to the outer surface of said upstanding portion of said member, and adjustable means extending between the top and bottom faces of said housing for controlling the sliding movement of said member without affecting the pivotal movement thereof, thereby to permit upward movement of the window and the adjustment of the force required to effect downward movement thereof, said last-mentioned means comprising an angular lever having an end thereof extending into said recess between said lateral face and said downward projection and func tioning as a stop for said L-shaped member, a threaded bolt extending through the top face of said housing and engaging the opposite end of said angular lever to adjust the position of the stop end thereof, and a spiral spring extending between said opposite end of said angular lever and the long horizontal portion of said L-shaped member.

7. A device as set forth in claim 6 wherein a protuberance is provided in the upper face of said long horizontal portion of said L-shaped member and a terminal pin is provided on the threaded bolt for engaging the opposite ends of said spiral spring to maintain the interconnection of the parts while permitting sliding and pivotal movement of said L-shaped member.

8. In a window friction balance for a window frame with a reciprocably movable window therein provided with a guideway, a retarding unit atfixed to said window frame for engagement with said guideway, said unit comprising a housing presenting an external surface in frictional contact with said guideway, an integral sheetmetal member loosely mounted within said housing of L-shaped cross-section with one arm of the L-section adapted to contact a part of said guideway in vertical position during downward movement of said window and in slightly canted position during upward movement of said window, and means cooperating with the other arm of said L-section for controlling the capability of movement of said member within said housing and thereby adjusting the pressure which may be exerted by said first arm against said guideway.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,521,292 Hayman Sept. 5, 1950 2,526,170 Steingruber Oct. 17, 1950 2,543,913 Krouse Mar. 6, 1951 2,651,535 Padjen Sept. 8, 1953 2,781,876 Van Fleet Feb. 19, 1957 2,883,226 Haynes Apr. 21, 1959 

